Lumintop Micro GT Review
We are deep in the “want” territory with this one, but man, is the Lumintop Micro GT a cool light.
It is also a perfect example of why, despite our erring towards them, reviewers should not have checklists or preconceived notions about what makes something good. As Steve Jobs said—people don’t know what they want until you show it to them. While this is typical quasi-philosophical management language bullshit (of which there is an epic ton out there about both Jobs and tech product design), there is a core truth in this statement. Well designed products appeal to us and function in a way that is often not in comportment with our stated goals and preferences.
The Lumintop Micro GT is a perfect example of this. I don’t like lights without pocket clips. I detest the many of the BLF UIs (this light runs Tom E’s Narsil UI, a similar, but simpler UI than the dreaded Andruil UI). I have no real need for a thrower. But the package here is so well done and so inexpensive that those things don’t really matter in the end. If you have even a passing like for pocket sized photon throwers, you will smile with joy the first time you use the Micro GT to cut through the darkness.
Don’t expect a perfect score here. The Micro GT doesn’t match up well with the scoring system. But this is an easy light to recommend and an absolute blast to own and use. And if you have kids in your life, they will love playing around with the Micro GT.
Here is the product page. The Micro GT is part of the Lumintop thrower line of torches that includes the GT (which is massive and one of the best non-LEP throwers on the market), the Mini GT (an 18650 thrower), and this light, a 1xAA thrower. The street price is a positively insane $39.99, a bargain anyway you slice it. There is a copper version available for $85.99. Here is ZeroAir’s review. Here is Matt Smith’s review (which prompted me to buy this, so beware).. Here is a link where you can find the Micro GT with proceeds benefiting the website. Here is my review sample (purchased in July with a two year old Christmas gift card):
Twitter Summary: A surprisingly capable light that happens to be a ton of fun.
Design: 2
This is a tough call. In the end, I decided to take two points off in Carry instead of dinging it once here and once there. The light is a small enough light and its throw to size ratio is amazing, but I can’t get over the fact that its hard to carry in a pocket. Its part of the compromise you make in getting a light like this, but it is sort of like a VW Bug with monster truck tires and a lift kit. Lights aren’t supposed to be built like this and perhaps that is a bit of the fun, but the design is just not good in the pocket and for a pocket light that is a bad thing. But, if you want a pocketable thrower, this is as good as it gets, oxymorons aside.
Fit and Finish: 2
Lumintop stuff has gotten much better over the years and while it is still years away from Torch Lab and Prometheus and even a step down from Surefire, its good. Think of it like Civivi stuff—100% fine, even if the materials leave a bit to be desired. A thinner body tube, for example, is hard to find.
Grip: 2
Well the golf ball sized nob at one end of the light makes for great choking up. You can hardly ask for better on a tiny little torch.
Carry: 0
I feel like this is a double ding, but its hard to express how much worse this is in the pocket compared to something like the Maratac AA light or any other similar design. There is no clip AND it won’t fit in a coin pocket—that a double punch in the goods in terms of carry and so two points off here instead of 1 in Design and 1 here.
Output: 2
A 1000 lumens is quite respectable for a 1xAA light and it certainly delivers. Because of the throw and beam tight enough to fit throw a paper towel tube, the 1000 lumens seems much, much brighter. And, because this is part of a generation of lights designed with an ear to BLF, it has a good functional moonlight low.
Runtime: 2
This has been on multiple night hikes and it has yet to die, even when running on high (not turbo) for 45 minutes to an hour. That seems like a pretty good test and a handy benchmark for time. If you are doing anything outside at night or in the dark for more than an hour, its probably time to get an area light and not rely on your pocket torch.
Beam Type: 2
Did you ever play flashlight tag as a kid? The rules were simple: the game is played at night, one person is “It” and everyone else hides, the person that is “It” can “tag” people by shining a flashlight on them. We used to play a massive neighborhood wide game on Halloween. We’d trick or treat, go to the neighborhood bonfire for dinner, and then afterwords, while the adults were chatting, us kids would play flashlight tag in our Halloween costumes.
THIS LIGHT WOULD HAVE CRUSHED IT. Back in those days most people brought those plastic tubes lights “sold” with batteries. The one person (me) that brought a Mini Mag was the king of the hill. There were no LED torches at the time, nothing with any real throw, and the beams were so spotty people could plausibly deny being hit with light. This light DEFINITELY would dominate the game. With a tight, clean beam and monstrous throw (especially compared to the lame lights of yesteryear), if I had this light and was “IT” no one could escape.
The stated throw of 400 meters is definitely a fair estimate. I took this light down to the ocean and at night I was able to hit an osprey nest about a half mile away. That would give it a throw of 804 meters, which is TWICE the stated distance, so I think I was either lucky or the map showing distance was a bit off, but the point is still obvious, this little gem can really reach.
The whole point of this light is throw and it does that well. Really well when you consider just how tiny the light is. I will say that this makes me want an LEP (laser excited phosphor) light even more (see here for more). Once they come down a bit in price (and size) I will have to go swing one.
Beam Quality: 2
Again, like with fit and finish, this is very good, especially considering the price. There are no rings or artifacts, and while that is a given on squashy, floody torches on a light with a huge reflector that is a really accomplishment. No need to resort to TIRs or frosted lenses, this is just a well made emitter and reflector.
UI: 2
Narsil is significantly simpler than Andruil and I actually like it. Its probably as complex as I am willing to go on a light with one input device, but it is reliable and easy to use and explain. That’s what you want in a UI.
Hands Free: 1
It tailstands like a 32 year old drunken gymnast—it can do it, but it is quite a challenge. The light won’t roll away and you can use a bite grip if needed.
Other Considerations
Fidget Factor: Very Low
Its an HA aluminum flashlight with an e-swtich, nothing to play with here.
Fett Effect: Very Low
See above.
Value: Very High
For a well made light with a truly unique use profile, its hard to beat the Micro Gt at $40. It can, occasionally be found for even less, around $30. At that price it might be one of the best values on the market.
Overall Score: 17 out of 20
The Lumintop Micro GT is a fascinating and fun light to play with. I wouldn’t consider it an EDC champ, as it is really hard to pocket, but its probably a light that could live in every collection nicely. You’d be hard pressed to find a more fun to use light, as it gives you those jaw dropping throws in a package that can be stowed relatively easily compared to other throwers. Its high and its price are also really appealing. Don’t fret so much about what it isn’t and enjoy it for what it is—a weird, fun light that earns a spot in most collections.
Competition
The super cool thing about the Micro GT is that it is hard to find true competitors. The Four Sevens Mini Turbo Mk. 3 is another attempt at a pocket-sized thrower and while it is a much better EDC light and more pocketable, its not really a thrower. The Thrunite T2 is another light that is a true thrower, but is even less pocketable than the Micro GT. The Mini GT is similar to the T2. Finally there is the throw version of the FW3a (a light I appreciate more and more), the FW21. This is what happens when you make a really unique product—there’s not much competition.
Amazon Links
Purchasing items below helps fund the blog and keep it 100% independent.